Press release -
Oxford stroke survivor adds her voice to Lost for Words campaign
Oxford stroke survivor, Ellis Elliot, 25, is one of the thousands of people living with communication difficulties after a stroke.
Ellis was undergoing open heart surgery in April when she had a stroke. The stroke left Ellis with part paralysis in her right arm, and a communication difficulty called aphasia.
Ellis said: “After my stroke, I was lucky to have my mum by my side at all times, but it has still been a struggle. I couldn't use my hand to write anymore, and just saying ‘hello’ was stressful.
“I feel like I am improving each and every day, though. I still get frustrated that I struggle to do simple things that we take for granted, like calling a friend or being able to having a spontaneous conversation without having to pause to think about your words. I want to raise as much awareness about stroke so that more people can understand what aphasia is.”
Suzy Imeson, Support Manager at the Stroke Association, said: “After a stroke, around one in three people like Ellis have difficulty communicating, which can be both terrifying and isolating. But with the right help and support, many stroke survivors are able to find new ways to communicate, and can rebuild their lives.”
More than 350,000 people in the UK have aphasia, a communication disability which can be caused by stroke. The Stroke Association is urging people to show their support for stroke survivors who are lost for words and make a donation. For more information, visit www.stroke.org.uk/lostforwords.